About the School of Human Ecology
The School of Human Ecology has a rich history at Tennessee Tech. Over the years we have evolved from a School of Home Economics to the name of “Human Ecology”.
The School of Human Ecology (founded in 1916 as the Domestic Science Department) has 1,800-plus alumni. We seek to promote a strong academic environment so that our graduates are prepared for careers in one or more of the diverse fields of human ecology.
Mission and Vision of the School of Human Ecology
› Mission
The School of Human Ecology provides education, research, service, resources and leadership in order to foster creativity, tenacity and analytical problem solving in our students as well as facilitating career ready graduates to empower individuals, families and communities to achieve optimal quality of life.
› Vision
The School of Human Ecology will be recognized as a premier program in Human Ecology and as an agent for advancing quality of life and fostering leadership in individuals, families and communities.
The Profession of Human Ecology
Human Ecology is the study of the relationship between individuals, families and communities and the environments in which they live. The field represents many content areas including: child development and family relations; child life; food, nutrition and dietetics; housing and design; and merchandising and design. Students learn, through theory and practice, how to provide a better quality of life for individuals throughout the life span. Students majoring in Human Ecology and Design Studies at Tennessee Tech receive practical experience in professional settings such as practicum, field experiences, and/or internships.
Facts about the School of Human Ecology
Licensing and Credentialing
- Didactic Program In Dietetics (DPD)
Application Rate: Within the most recent three-year time frame 2022 - May 2024; 24 students graduated with a Verification statement and 18 applied to a supervised practice program within 12 months of graduation for an application rate of 75%. The Tennessee Tech DPD Benchmark for this measure is 60% of graduates will apply to a supervised practice program.
Admission Rates: Within the most recent time period, May 2022 - May 2024, 18 students applied to a supervised practice program within 12 months of graduation and 17 students were accepted for a graduate acceptance rate of 94%. The Tennessee Tech DPD Benchmark for this measure is 50% of graduates are admitted to a supervised practice program within 12 months of graduation.
The 2023 national average for acceptance into a dietetic supervised practice program is 85%.
Registered Dietitian Exam Results*
Testing Year #Taking Exam # Passed %Passed National Avg 2023 3 2 67% 2022 4 2 50% 88% 2021 12 9 75% 90% Totals 19 13 68.4% *Exam testers within one year of first attempt; Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) required Benchmark for this measure is one year pass rate must be at least 80%.
- Human Ecology Graduation Rate
Graduation Rate of First-Time Freshmen, 6-Year Rate
Fall 2016
CohortFall 2017
CohortFall 2018
CohortFall 2019
CohortFall 2020
Cohort# Enrolled in HEC 23 20 29 28 27 # Graduated from HEC 12 17 19 19 23 HEC 6-Year Graduation Rate 52.2% 85.0% 65.5% 67.9% 85.2% TN Tech 6-Year Graduation Rate 60.2% 54.2% 57.7% 56.0% 58.7% - Human Ecology Enrollment
Undergraduate Enrollment
*Child Life is no longer offered as an undergraduate program; an MS in Child Life is now offered.Concentration F2021 F2022 F2023 F2024 F2025 F2026 Human Development
& Family Science39 44 30 40 51 46 Child Life* 44 44 29 18 5 1 Nut/Dietetics 38 38 39 46 32 25 Architecture
& Interior Design36 54 92 114 132 128 Fashion Merchandising
& Design30 29 27 30 33 30 FACS Educ.** 5 4 1 – – – Total 192 213 218 248 253 230
**FACS Education is no longer being offered.Graduate Enrollment
*Child Life program began Fall 2026Concentration F2021 F2022 F2023 F2024 F2025 F2026 MS Community Health & Nutrition 13 21 20 14 13 19 MS Child Life - - - - - 2 Total 13 21 20 14 13 21 - Human Ecology Retention Rates
Retention Rates for First Time Freshmen
Cohort 2020 Cohort 2021 Cohort 2022 Cohort 2023 Cohort 2024 Cohort 2025 # Enrolled HEC 27 33 28 45 51 45 # Cont to 2nd Fall 23 33 21 37 38 34 HEC Retention Rate 85.2% 81.8% 75% 83.3% 74.5% 75.6% TN Tech Retention Rate 72.9% 78.5% 77.3% 78.2% - Student Performance and Achievement